This isn't just about a beautiful landscape; it's about the very desolate places—the "dry lands" and "deserts"—actively participating in joy. The verse personifies these barren areas, giving them the capacity to rejoice and blossom, suggesting that even the most broken and empty parts of creation will be transformed and made glad by God's coming.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy arrives immediately after God’s judgment is described against His enemies, particularly Edom, leaving their land desolate. Now, the focus shifts to the land of God's people, which has also been barren and wasted, promising a spectacular transformation. This renewal isn't just a return to its former state but a vibrant flourishing, a symbol of the joy and life that will fill the world through God's redemptive work.
Imagine a place so dry and lifeless that nothing can grow. Isaiah uses this stark image to describe a profound spiritual truth.
The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of transformation. He speaks of the "wilderness" and the "desert" – places characterized by emptiness, lack of life, and spiritual desolation. These are not just geographical locations; they represent the human heart and the world estranged from God.
But here's the breathtaking part: these desolate places are not condemned to remain that way. They will "be glad" and "rejoice." This isn't just a gentle change; it's a radical blossoming. The imagery of blooming like a crocus or rose signifies an eruption of beauty, life, and joy where there was once only barrenness. This is God's promise: to bring vibrant life to the most unlikely, spiritually barren places.
Why would a barren desert suddenly burst into bloom? It's not a random event, but a direct result of God's action.
The joy described in Isaiah 35:1 isn't spontaneous or self-generated. The phrase "shall be glad for them" (or "on account of them," as some scholars suggest) points to the reason for this transformation.
This joy comes because of God's coming intervention and the salvation He brings. It's a response to the removal of enemies, the defeat of sin and death, and the establishment of God's reign. Think of it as the earth celebrating the arrival of the King who brings life and order. The desert blossoms because God makes it so. This highlights that spiritual renewal is always a gift from God, initiated by His power and grace.
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Understand the original words
aravah · Hebrew Noun
An uninhabited, uncultivated region; in prophecy, it often symbolizes places of judgment or desolation that will be transformed by God's restoration.
kavod · Hebrew Noun
Divine radiance, splendor, or weightiness; it refers to the visible manifestation of God’s presence and character, often associated with His holiness and saving power.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in Israel, revealing Him as the self-existent One who enters into a relationship with His people and fulfills His promises.
hadar · Hebrew Noun
The royal splendor, greatness, or dignity belonging to a king or God; it signifies the awe-inspiring beauty and power of the Creator.
Isaiah 35 paints a picture of hope and restoration, contrasting the desolation of exile with the flourishing of God's people. This vision of a transformed wilderness blooming like a flower speaks directly to a people who have experienced the utter ruin of their land and the destruction of their central place of worship.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire, a growing military power, conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants. This event creates a precedent for future deportations and emphasizes the vulnerability of the region.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades the southern Kingdom of Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is miraculously spared, the surrounding lands are devastated, highlighting the precariousness of Judah's existence.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, beginning with the first deportation of Jewish nobles and skilled workers to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian Exile, a period of profound spiritual and national crisis.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the heart of Israel's worship and national identity. This catastrophic event plunges the remaining population into exile and leaves the land desolate.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Captures Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire. This geopolitical shift soon leads to the Edict of Cyrus, permitting the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
Following their return from exile, the Jewish people, though fewer in number and with a less glorious Temple, dedicate the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This signifies a rebuilding of their community and religious life.
This passage directly parallels Isaiah 35:1 by speaking of God opening rivers in desolate heights and making the desert a place of springs, further emphasizing the transformation of barrenness into abundance.
Isaiah 55:12This verse speaks of the mountains and hills breaking forth into singing and all the trees of the field clapping their hands, echoing the joy and flourishing described in Isaiah 35:1 as a result of God's redemption.
Matthew 11:5Jesus quotes parts of Isaiah 35, including the healing of the blind and lame, and the poor having good news preached to them, directly linking the prophetic imagery of restoration and joy to His own ministry and fulfillment.
Revelation 21:4This future vision describes God wiping away every tear and there being no more death, mourning, crying, or pain, which beautifully captures the ultimate fulfillment of the joy and renewal promised in Isaiah 35:1.
barnesIsaiah 35:1: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."
The wilderness and the solitary place - This is evidently figurative language, such as is often employed by the prophets. The word rendered 'solitary place' (ציה tsı̂yâh), denotes properly a dry place, a place without springs and streams of water; and as such places produce no verdure, and nothing to sustain life, the word comes to mean a desert. Such expressions…
pulpitIsaiah 35:1: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."
Verses 1-10. - THE GLORY OF THE LAST TIMES. On the punishment of God's enemies will follow the peace, prosperity, and glory of his Church. Previously, the Church is in affliction, waste, and desolate. Its enemies once removed, destroyed, swept out of the way, it rises instantly in all its beauty to a condition which words are poor to paint. The highest resources of…
This isn't just about a beautiful landscape; it's about the very desolate places—the "dry lands" and "deserts"—actively participating in joy. The verse personifies these barren areas, giving them the capacity to rejoice and blossom, suggesting that even the most broken and empty parts of creation will be transformed and made glad by God's coming.
This prophecy arrives immediately after God’s judgment is described against His enemies, particularly Edom, leaving their land desolate. Now, the focus shifts to the land of God's people, which has also been barren and wasted, promising a spectacular transformation. This renewal isn't just a return to its former state but a vibrant flourishing, a symbol of the joy and life that will fill the world through God's redemptive work.
This prophecy arrives immediately after God’s judgment is described against His enemies, particularly Edom, leaving their land desolate. Now, the focus shifts to the land of God's people, which has also been barren and wasted, promising a spectacular transformation. This renewal isn't just a return to its former state but a vibrant flourishing, a symbol of the joy and life that will fill the world through God's redemptive work.
"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the m…" — This isn't just about a beautiful landscape; it's about the very desolate places—the "dry lands" and "deserts"—actively participating in joy. The verse personifies these barren areas, giving them t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
